Attachment for printing presses



y 8, 1962 c. HIRSCH 3,033,111

ATTACHMENT FOR PRINTING PRESSES Filed July 25, 1961 INVENTOR. CARL HIRSCH flaw/4 ATTORNEY United States Patent ()flflce 3,033,111 Patented May 8, 1962 3,033,111 ATTACHMENT FOR PRINTING PRESSES Carl Hirsch, 805 Patterson, Willow Grove, Pa. Filed July 25, 1961, Ser. No. 126,663 7 Claims. (Cl. 101-272) The present invention relates to an attachment for printing presses, and more particularly to a vertical air sheet control attachment for vertical bed, cylinder printing presses.

In the delivery of the sheets of paper from the cylinder of a vertical bed printing press to the delivery table, the sheets of paper have a tendency to curl or arch as they are drawn from the cylinder. Thus, as the sheet of paper is drawn from the cylinder the top surface of the sheet contacts and scrapes across the underside of the transfer table and the front edge of the sheet of paper on the transfer table being fed to the cylinder. This causes the printing on the sheet to be scratched or smeared, which is undesirable. Therefore, it is highly desirable to maintain the sheet being delivered relatively flat to prevent the scratching or smearing of the printing thereon.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an attachment for a printing press.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an attachment for vertical bed, cylinder printing presses.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a printing press with means for maintaining the printed paper sheet depressed as it is transferred from the cylinder to the delivery table.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a printing press with a mechanism for delivering a blast of air against the sheets of paper as they are pulled from the cylinder toward the delivery table to keep the printed image free from smears, scrapes and distortion marks.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

For the purpose of illustrating the invention there is shown in the drawings a form which is presently preferred; it being understood, however, that this invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown.

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of a vertical bed, cylinder printing press having the improvement of the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is a front elevational view of the air blast mechanism of the present invention. I

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIGURE 2.

Referring initially to FIGURE 1, the printing press shown therein is generally designated as 10. The press It} is in large part of well known construction in wide commercial use at the present time and for some years past. The present invention is exemplified herein by additions to, and modifications of a Miehle vertical press of well known construction. The details of the construction and operation of such a press are shown and described in US. patent to E. Cheshire No. 1,567,177 and US. patent to F. V. Toppin No. 2,027,797. Since the improvement of the present invention can be used on any type of vertical bed, cylinder press, a detailed description of the press 111 shown in FIGURE 1 is not believed to be necessary or even desirable, particularly since such details are well known in the art. However, a general description of the press 16 will be given to provide a clear understanding of the improvement of the present invention and its relationship with a press.

As shown in FIGURE 1, press comprises a base frame 12 supporting an upright way frame 14. A type bed, not shown, is mounted for'vertical reciprocation in the way frame 14. An impression cylinder 16 extends across the front of the way frame 14 and is mounted on a cylinder frame 18. The cylinder frame 18 is mounted on the way frame 14 for vertical reciprocation in opposition to the movement of the type bed. Thus, when the type bed moves vertically downwardly, the impression cylinder 16 is moved vertically upwardly, and vice versa. When the impression cylinder 16 is moved vertically upwardly, it is rotated to impress a paper sheet, gripped thereby, against a type form set up on the type bed.

A platform 20 is mounted for pivotal movement on an arm 22 extending from the base frame 12. The platform 20 supports the stock supply table 24 and its related mechanisms. A feeder frame 26 is journaled between a pair of arms 28 extending from the platform 20. The feeder frame 26 is pivotal between a position in which the top thereof is over the supply table 24, and a position in which the top is over a transfer table 30. The transfer table 30 is mounted on the cylinder frame 18, and is positioned over the cylinder 16 so as to guide the sheets of paper placed thereon to the cylinder. The feeder frame 26 is of the suction type so that the feeder frame can pick up the sheets of paper from the supply table 24 and transfer the sheets to the transfer table 30.

A delivery table 32 is mounted between the side walls of the way frame 14 behind the type bed. A delivery frame 34 is journaled between the sides of the way frame 14, and is pivotable between a position over the back edge of the delivery table 32 and a position over the cylinder 16. The delivery frame 34 is provided with grippers 36 for gripping an edge of the sheets of paper on the cylinder 16 and transferring the sheets to the delivery table 32.

The press 10 is driven by an electric motor 38. The

38 also drives an air pump 52 mounted on the base frame 12. The press 10 so far described is of well known construction in wide commercial use at the present time, and the details of which form no part of the present invention.

The air blast mechanism of the present invention includes a mounting rod 54 supported between the cylinder frames 18 parallel to and over the impression cylinder 16. As shown in FIGURE 2, three air blast nozzle blocks 56a, 56b and 56c are mounted in spaced relation on the mounting rod 54. As shown in FIGURE 3, nozzle block 56b is provided with a groove 58 in one of its side edges, which groove is adapted to receive the mounting rod 54. A threaded hole 60 extends through the nozzle block 5612 from the top thereof to the groove 58. A set screw 62 is threaded in the hole 60 and engages the mounting rod 54 to secure the nozzle block 56b to the mounting rod. A passage 64 extends through the nozzle block 5612 from the top to the bottom thereof. A threaded counterbore 66 is provided at the top end of the passage 64. The nozzle blocks 56a and 560 are identical in construction to the nozzle block 5612 as described above.

The leg of a T-fitting 68 is threaded in the counterbore 66 in the nozzle block 56b. A similar T-fitting 70 is secured to the nozzle block 56a, and an L-fitting 72 is secured to the nozzle block 56c. The open end of the L-fitting 72 is connected to one end of the head of the T-fitting 68 by a pipe or flexible hose 74. The other end of the head of the T-fitting 68 is connected to one end of the head of the T-fitting 70 by a pipe or flexible hose 76. One end of a pipe or flexible hose 78 is connected to the other end of the head of the T-fitting 78. The other end of the pipe or hose 78 is connected to the outlet end of a valve 80 on the outlet port of the air pump 52. The valve 30 is electrically operated by a solenoid 82. Although the pipe or hose 78 is shown as being connected to an air pump mounted on the frame of the press 10, the pipe 78 may be connected to a separate supply of air under pressure. The line between the air supply, such as the air pump 52, and the nozzle blocks 56a, 56b and 560 may include suitable pressure regulating valves and pressure gauges to permit control of the pressure of the flow of air to the nozzle blocks.

As shown in FIGURE 1, a cam 84 is mounted on the fly wheel shaft 50, and has a camming projection 86. A switch 88, such as a micro-switch, is mounted on a plate 90 secured to the base frame 12. The switch 88 is positioned adjacent the cam 84, and has an operating arm 92 slidably engaging the periphery of the cam. The switch 88 is normally open, and is closed when the camming projection 86 engages the operating arm 92. The switch 88 is electrically connected to the solenoid 82 by wires passing through the conduit 94. The solenoid 82 is connected to a source of current, not shown, through the switch 88 so that when the switch is closed, the solenoid 82 is energized to open the valve 80. When the switch 88 is open, the solenoid 82 is deenergized so that the valve 80 is closed.

In the operation of the press It the feeder frame 26 transfers the sheets of paper from the supply table 24 to the transfer table 30. The transfer table 30 guides the sheets to the impression cylinder 16. As the impression cylinder 16 is moved upwardly by the cylinder frame 18, the cylinder is rotated to wrap the sheet therearound and impress the sheet against the type form on the type bed which is moving downwardly. When the cylinder 16 has reached the upper-most point of its stroke, the printing has been completely applied to the sheet. At this point, the delivery frame 34 has pivoted to a position in which the grippers 36 are over the cylinde 16, and grip an edge of the sheet. The delivery frame then pivots back to remove the sheet from the cylinder 16 and transfer the sheet to the delivery table 32.

When the cylinder 16 has reached the upper-most position of its stroke, the cam 84 has rotated to bring the camming projection 86 into engagement with the operating arm 92 of the switch 88. This closes the switch 88 to energize the solenoid 82, and thereby open the valve 80. When the valve 80 is open, air from the air pump 52 or other source of air under pressure passes through the hoses 78, 76 and 74 and the fittings 70, 68 and 72 to the passages in the nozzle blocks 56a, 56b and 560. The nozzle blocks 56a, 56b and 560 are positioned so as to direct the air passing through their passages against the top surface of the sheet being removed from the cylinder 16 by the delivery frame 34. It has been found that the blast of air against the top surface of the sheet prevents the sheet from curling or arching, and maintains the sheet relatively flat as it is transferred from the cylinder 16 to the delivery table 32. Thus, the top surface of the sheet being delivered to the delivery table 32 does not scrape across the under surface of the transfer table 30 or the front edge of the sheet of paper on the transfer table so that the printing on the sheet is not scratched or smeared.

The camming projection 86 of the cam 84 is of a circumferential length that when the sheet is completely removed from the cylinder 16, the camming projection 86 has rotated past the operating arm 92 of the switch 88 so as to open the switch 88. This deenergizes the solenoid 82 so as to close the valve 80 and stop the flow of air to the nozzle blocks 56a, 56b and 56c. Thus, the blast of air from the nozzle blocks 56a, 56b and 56c is provided only during the time that the sheet is being drawn from the cylinder 16. By providing the blast of air from the nozzle blocks 56a, 56b and 560 only during the period of time that the sheet is being drawn from the cylinder 16, the air pump 58 or other source of air is not overloaded so that it can provide air to other parts of the press 10 where it may be needed.

Although the air blast mechanism of the present invention is shown as including only three nozzle blocks, it may be provided with additional nozzle blocks if desired. However, it has been found that three nozzle blocks uniformly spaced across the cylinder 16 provides sufiicient blasts of air against the sheet to prevent curling or arching of the sheet. By means of pressure control valves in the line to the nozzle blocks, the force of the air blasts can be controlled for various types and thicknesses of the sheets.

The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof and, accordingly, reference should be made to the appended claims, rather than to the foregoing specification as indicating the scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. In a printing press having a vertical type bed, a cylinder mounted for reciprocation and rotation across the type bed to impress a sheet of paper against the type, means for feeding a sheet of paper to the cylinder and means for transferring the sheet of paper from the cylinder to a delivery table when the cylinder is at its uppermost point of reciprocation, means mounted above and along the cylinder for delivering a blast of air against the top surface of the sheet of paper as the sheet is drawn from the cylinder.

2. A printing press in accordance with claim 1 including means for supplying air to said air blast means only during the period of time that the sheet of paper is being drawn from the cylinder.

3. A printing press in accordance with claim 2 including a mounting rod extending across the top of the cylinder and mounted to reciprocate with said cylinder, and the air blast means comprises a plurality of nozzles mounted in spaced relation on said rod, each of said nozzles having a passage directed downwardly toward said cylinder, and means for connecting the passages in said nozzles to a source of air under pressure.

4. A printing press in accordance with claim 3 in which each of the nozzles comprises a block having a notch in one side edge thereof which receives the mounting rod, a threaded hole extending through said block to said notch, a set screw threaded in said hole and engaging said mounting rod to secure the block to said rod, and a passage extending through said block through which the air passes.

5. A printing press in accordance with claim 4 in which the means for connecting the passages in the blocks to a source of air comprises an L-fitting in the inlet end of the passage in the block at one end of the mounting rod, T- fittings in the inlet ends of the passages in the other blocks, tubes connecting said fittings in series, and a supply tube connecting the fitting on the block at the other end of the mounting rod to the source of air under pressure.

6. A printing press in accordance with claim 5 including a solenoid operated valve connected between the source of air and the supply tube, electrical circuit means connecting the solenoid of said valve to a source of current, switch means in said circuit to control energization and deenergization of said solenoid, and camming means operated by said press to operate said switch between its open and closed positions.

7. A printing press in accordance with claim 6 in which said camming means is arranged to cause the valve to be opened only during the portion of the cycle of the press that the sheet of paper is being drawn from the cylinder.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 862,330 Harris Aug. 6, 1907 2,299,259 Sites Oct. 20, 1942 2,619,902 Hunziker Dec. 2, 1952 

